News Article – Do I Need Permissionhttp://doineedpermission.co.uk
Planning Permission and Building Regulation AdviceWed, 25 Jul 2018 07:58:35 +0000en-GBhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.85 Reasons Why Freestanding Baths Are the King of Bathroom Suiteshttp://doineedpermission.co.uk/5-reasons-why-freestanding-baths-are-the-king-of-bathroom-suites/
http://doineedpermission.co.uk/5-reasons-why-freestanding-baths-are-the-king-of-bathroom-suites/#respondMon, 16 Oct 2017 09:23:14 +0000http://doineedpermission.co.uk/?p=13548Open plan and ‘free flowing’ living has become the quintessential option for many people looking to renovate their homes. Everyone has heard of open plan living rooms and kitchens – but now it’s time for freestanding baths to take a bow in the interior design revolution. I’ve come up with 5 reasons why freestanding baths are now the king of bathroom suites…

1. Customer are spending more time on bathroom design

People are busier than ever before and rarely get any time to relax, that’s why the general public are investing more time into the design of their bathroom suites because it’s one of the few places where they can get some peace and quiet. Our business has certainly seen a surge in sales for luxury items such as steam showers and freestanding baths. With the advent of space-saving offset quadrant that can easily fit into otherwise unused alcoves, it’s now possible to install a bath as well. People no longer have to pick between a bath and a shower – instead opting to have both as separate facilities.

2. Vintage is always en vogue

Of course, when we cast our minds back to the Victorian Age, freestanding baths such as the roll-top and slipper models were commonplace. Well, they were certainly common with the affluent classes! Now it isn’t just the aristocracy that can afford beautiful bathroom suites, people nowadays want to replicate the ornate luxury of past eras and we, as bathroom retailers, have made that accessible to everyone.

3. Suitable for bathrooms of all sizes

Customers contact us to ask whether a freestanding bath will fit in with their smaller bathroom suites – and the answer is, for the most part, yes! One of the beauties that attracts customers to freestanding baths is the option to fit standpipes with a bath shower mixer, which not only means they can have a bath and shower in one but they maintain the classic smart vintage look.

4. Complements bathroom suites of all styles

“But what if my customers aren’t looking for a classic vintage look?” I hear you say. Freestanding models are also suitable for contemporary bathroom suites – you only have to research the various styles available on retailer’s websites. Our contemporary range has proven to be one of our most popular category when people are looking to upgrade their bathroom suites. Not only do we believe it’s important to stock the clean-cut angular style, but we also give our customers a choice with a softer modern range. When it comes to contemporary styles, minimalism is best – this way, the customer can personalise their bathroom suites as they see fit. Essentially, it’s like working with a beautiful blank canvas!

5. Resistant materials ideal for all bathroom suites

What’s the point of offering products that aren’t manufactured to the highest quality? Freestanding baths in particular tend to be crafted from the highest quality materials, compared to other elements of bathroom suites. The baths themselves can be made from a durable fusion of cast iron, stone, wood and acrylic. It’s also possible to customers to purchase and install various plumbing fixtures including taps, showerheads and feet.

Based on our sales figures and current trends, we can safely say that freestanding baths are an incredibly popular choice for bathroom suites at the moment. It’s important that we, as retailers, give our customers an impressive choice and 24/7 access to a dedicated customer service team. I highly advise that you start stocking a variety of freestanding bath styles and bathroom suites so your customers can fulfil their bathroom interior design dreams!

]]>http://doineedpermission.co.uk/5-reasons-why-freestanding-baths-are-the-king-of-bathroom-suites/feed/02017 Building Warrant Fees – Scotlandhttp://doineedpermission.co.uk/2017-building-warrant-fees-scotland/
http://doineedpermission.co.uk/2017-building-warrant-fees-scotland/#respondMon, 17 Jul 2017 15:18:01 +0000http://doineedpermission.co.uk/?p=13528At the start of July 2017 the Scottish Government introduced new building warrant application fees.

The cost of a building warrant is determined by the value of the works you are carrying out. The new fees are as follows.

£0 – £5000 Fee £150

£5001 – £5500 Fee £169

£5501 – £6000 Fee £188

£6001 – £6500 Fee £207

£6501 – £ 7000 Fee £226

£7001 – £7500 Fee £245

£7501 – £8000 Fee £265

£8001 – £8500 Fee £283

£8501 – £9000 Fee £302

£9001 – £9400 Fee £321

£9501 – £10000 Fee £340

£10001 – £11000 Fee £359

£11001 – £12000 Fee £378

£12001 – £13000 Fee £397

£13001 – £14000 Fee £416

£14001 – £15000 Fee £435

£15001 – £16000 Fee £454

£16001 – £17000 Fee £473

£17001 – £18000 Fee £492

£18001 – £19000 Fee £511

£19001 – £20000 Fee £530

£20001 – £30000 Fee £593

£30001 – £40000 Fee £656

£40001 – £50000 Fee £719

£50001 – £60000 Fee £782

£60001 – £70000 Fee £845

£70001 – £80000 Fee £908

£80001 – £90000 Fee £971

£90001 – £100000 Fee £1034

£100001 – £120000 Fee £1137

£120001 – £140000 Fee £1240

£140001 – £160000 Fee £1343

£160001 – £180000 Fee £1446

£180001 – £200000 Fee £1549

£200001 – £220000 Fee £1652

£220001 – £240000 Fee £1755

£240001 – £260000 Fee £1858

£260001 – £280000 Fee £1961

£2800001 – £300000 Fee £2064

£300001 – £320000 Fee £2167

£320001 – £340000 Fee £2270

£340001 – £360000 Fee £2373

£360001 – £380000 Fee £2476

£380001 – £400000 Fee £2579

£400001 – £420000 Fee £2682

£420001 – £440000 Fee £2785

£440001 – £460000 Fee £2888

£460001 – £480000 Fee £2991

£480001 – £500000 Fee £3094

£500001 – £550000 Fee £3272

£550001 – £600000 Fee £3450

£600001 – £650000 Fee £3628

£650001 – £700000 Fee £3806

£700001 – £750000 Fee £3984

£750001 – £800000 Fee £4162

£800001 – £850000 Fee £4340

£850001 – £900000 Fee £4518

£900001 – £950000 Fee £4696

£950001 – £1000000 Fee £4874

For each additional £100000 add £253.

Discounts can be applied where certificates of design are provided, e.g. engineers SERS schemes.

Where works have been already started you will have to pay 200% of the warrant fee.

Where works have been completed you will have to pay 300% of the warrant fee.

To extend the time period of a warrant £100. Subject to building controls approval of an extension.

]]>http://doineedpermission.co.uk/2017-building-warrant-fees-scotland/feed/0Keep calm and relax: What to do when your home is damagedhttp://doineedpermission.co.uk/keep-calm-and-relax-what-to-do-when-your-home-is-damaged/
http://doineedpermission.co.uk/keep-calm-and-relax-what-to-do-when-your-home-is-damaged/#respondThu, 13 Jul 2017 14:50:12 +0000http://doineedpermission.co.uk/?p=13505If your home is damaged, it can be heart wrenching on the emotions as well as the bank balance but if you’ve got the right insurance cover, there’s nothing to worry about.

If the damage is an emergency and you don’t have hot water, electricity or drinking water then call your supplier and insurance company immediately for the emergency cover protection that they should supply.

Dig out your policy documents with your policy number attached so that you’re ready for all the questions on the telephone. Also check your policy cover excess and check you have the funds to pay for what you need

Depending on the level of damage, you have a few options. Firstly, consider your excess on the insurance you have. If it’s £140 and it’s a cheaper job you’re better off funding yourself. However, if it’s £200+ then it’s time to get your insurance provider involved.

If you are going to make a claim, you need to decide who is liable. If it was you who caused the accident unintentionally then your insurance will cover it. However, if someone who doesn’t live in your home did the damage, then they are liable. If they don’t have any legal liability to stand up against, the process will have to go back through your insurer.

Before your insurer can respond with the finances for your claim you need to work out how much the repairs are going to cost. You will need to get various quotes from builders, plumbers or electricians and establish the cost of the repairs.

You will also need to keep notes on the finer details of the damage and take photos as evidence. Claims can take some time to be put through and accepted so you need to speed the process up as much as possible by being as prepared as you can.

Remember that this is what insurance providers are there for; they will be ready to provide you with the reassurance you need and work hard to respond to your requests. When it comes to insurance, as long as you’ve gone through a Defaqto 5 star home insurance, your property is in safe hands.

The only exception that insurance companies sometimes make to claims is when something could have been prevented. For example, if the damage to your home is caused by weather then prepare to be asked how recently you had maintenance carried out and whether you had recently checked that area of your home. As the old saying goes, prepare, or prepare to fail.

]]>http://doineedpermission.co.uk/keep-calm-and-relax-what-to-do-when-your-home-is-damaged/feed/0Planning Permission or Building Warrant before purchasing a propertyhttp://doineedpermission.co.uk/planning-permission-or-building-warrant-before-purchasing-a-property/
http://doineedpermission.co.uk/planning-permission-or-building-warrant-before-purchasing-a-property/#respondMon, 13 Mar 2017 13:32:58 +0000http://doineedpermission.co.uk/?p=12908You’ve found the ideal location but the property needs updating or you need to add an extension, loft conversion or conservatory to make it your perfect home.

Buying a new home can be a long drawn out process by the time all the important legal bits are put in place and an agreement is made on a moving date it could potentially be months till it’s officially yours. But what if your desperate to get started with your home improvement project as soon as you get the keys?

Planning permission and building warrant can take between 2 to 4 months to get approval. The sooner you apply the quicker you would be able to start work.

“Can I make a planning or building warrant applications before I even own the property?”

The simple answer is yes.

Anyone can apply for planning permission or building warrant on a property even if you don’t own the building or land yet.

You will have to notify the current owner and provide details of the current owner as part of the planning or building warrant application process.

We recommend letting the current owners know you want to apply to make changes. It’s likely you will need to get some access for an architect or designer to come and measure up the existing property to allow them to draw plans.

Remember planning permission and building warrant applications will have fees associated with them which can range from a few hundred to thousands of pounds depending on your particular project. Make sure you are fully committed to purchasing the property before spending money on the application.

Check your proposed home improvement project will fit into you budget. Try one of our home improvement quote services below to find out what your project might cost.

]]>http://doineedpermission.co.uk/planning-permission-or-building-warrant-before-purchasing-a-property/feed/0Converting Conservatory Roofs – Do I Need Permission?http://doineedpermission.co.uk/converting-conservatory-roofs-do-i-need-permission/
http://doineedpermission.co.uk/converting-conservatory-roofs-do-i-need-permission/#respondWed, 23 Nov 2016 11:41:10 +0000http://doineedpermission.co.uk/?p=12558You’ve had a conservatory built or bought a property with an existing conservatory and discovered that with the UK’s unpredictable weather you never use it as its too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer.

There is an increasing trend and various companies out there that now offer to convert your existing conservatory roof to reduce this problem. This is achieved by installing a light weight, insulated roof system. But do you need building warrant to do these work?

This is becoming an increasingly popular question so we thought we would write a short article on it.

Let’s start by defining what a conservatory is. The building regulations definition of a conservatory is,

• A building attached to a dwelling with a door and any other building elements dividing it thermally from that dwelling and having a translucent glazing (including frames) forming not less than either,

o 75% of its roof area and 50% of its external wall area or
o 95% of its roof area and 35% of its external wall area.

Glazed can also mean a surface that lets light through e.g. Clear/frosted polycarbonate roofs.

The Scottish Building Regulations have a separate classification and regulations that apply to conservatories. This sets out specific criteria where a conservatory can be built without the need to apply for a building warrant if it meets the following.

• Is attached to an existing building.
• Does NOT have a footprint larger than 8 square metres. (e.g. 2 metres by 4 metres)
• Is more than 1 metre away from your boundary.
• Does NOT contain sanitary facilities.
• Does NOT contain fixed solid fuel, oil or gas appliances.

If you alter or reduce the areas of glazing permitted when you add a solid roof to a conservatory you change what this is defined as in terms of the building regulations.

Depending on the size of your existing conservatory adding a solid roof will likely turn your conservatory into either a porch or an extension. This changes the building regulations that apply and also changes the requirement for building warrant approval.

Where your conservatory is under 8 metres in area it will become classed as a porch. A porch can also be built without the need to apply for a building warrant as long as it meets the following criteria.

• Is attached to an existing building.
• Does NOT have a footprint larger than 8 square metres. (e.g. 2 metres by 4 metres)
• Is more than 1 metre away from your boundary.
• Does NOT contain sanitary facilities.
• Does NOT contain fixed solid fuel, oil or gas appliances.

If your exiting conservatory is over 8 metres in area it becomes classed as an extension and you would need to apply for building warrant for the roof conversion.

You have a responsibility to apply for a building warrant where required. Failure to apply for building warrant approval to change the roof of your conservatory could cause issues should you come to sell your property as no approval has been granted for alterations made. You may have to apply for permission in retrospect.

Although in some cases a building warrant may not be required you still have a responsibility to ensure the building regulations are met.

In summary if your existing conservatory is under 8 metres in area you do not need to apply for a building warrant to fit an insulated roof as it will now be classed as a porch. Where your existing conservatory is over 8 metres in area you need to apply for building warrant as it will become classed as an extension.

Renovating a property can be one of the most exciting things to do when you’re a homeowner. It’s a chance for you to really put your stamp on the place, doing it up to precisely your taste and increasing its value for the future. But, before you begin, there’s lots of research you need to do! Here are a handful of key things you really mustn’t overlook when renovating…

Planning permission

Lots of people assume that they can change their house in any way they like, and while you might not face any restriction, it’s worth being 100% sure before you begin. Research the building restrictions and regulations in your area, apply for planning permission if you need it, and get in touch with your local council if you need to confirm anything. It’s important to do this: people have been forced to tear down their extensions and entire buildings for not complying with proper planning permission rules!

Your time

Think it will only take a weekend to rip out a kitchen? Think again! If you’re experienced and have the right tools at your disposal, particular renovation jobs might only take as long as you’re expecting, but it’s a good idea to plan for things taking a little longer.

If you’re hiring professionals to help you with your renovation, ask them for a realistic estimate of how long they expect jobs to take as this will help you to budget for their expenses and determine your schedule. If you’re booking time off work to do some DIY, consider taking an extra day or two to account for the fact you’ll probably need to go to the shops for more supplies part way through, or spend a while cleaning up afterwards.

Your budget

Doubtless you’ll have done your homework when it comes to researching the cost of materials, contractors and skip hiring, but be careful not to overlook the fact that you need a contingency budget. Most renovation projects run into unforeseen circumstances (for instance, ripping off the wallpaper might reveal a major damp problem), so it’s important you have cash to get you out of a tricky situation. Set an emergency budget, and don’t begin work until you can comfortably afford to actually spend the back-up cash if the need arises!

The finishing touches

Of course, adding a loft conversion or building an extension will make a huge impact: you’ll increase your living space and instantly add value to your property. But it’s important not to overlook small details when you’re renovating, as subconsciously it’s the little things that ‘upgrade’ the overall impression your home makes.

Spend some time choosing and installing beautiful fittings such as new door handles and new doors (such as a mexicano door for instance – a popular choice for stylish homeowners). You should also make sure any paintwork you to do is of a high quality, so buy the best paint you can afford (such as a colour from the Farrow and Ball range for example), and hire someone to do the work if you’re not much good at cutting in or getting an even finish!

]]>Are your properties up to standard? How to keep within the lawhttp://doineedpermission.co.uk/are-your-properties-up-to-standard-how-to-keep-within-the-law/
Mon, 04 Jul 2016 15:33:16 +0000http://doineedpermission.co.uk/?p=12434If you’re a landlord or invest heavily in the property market like First Urban, you’ll know that it is a legal duty to make sure that any property let out to tenants complies with a number of safety regulations. It is important that you keep the property safe for your tenants and know exactly how you should be doing this to avoid disputes further down the line. Below is a list of some of the main obligations you need to comply with to ensure your properties are up to standard:

Gas safety According to This is Money, one in five part-time landlords have either failed to hire an expert to perform a gas safety check on their property in the last year, or have used a contractor who is not Gas Safe-registered. Don’t make this mistake. You must make sure that all gas equipment in the property is safely installed by a professional and maintained by a Gas Safe registered engineer. They should carry out an annual gas safety check on appliances and give you a copy of the record which you should also share with the tenant.

Electrical safety Before a tenant moves in, electrical safety checks should be carried out by a qualified electrician to ensure that all electrical systems and appliances are safe and meet legal requirements. The necessary records should be obtained and passed on to the tenant where needed.

Fire safety To meet the standards for fire safety, you must follow relevant safety regulations, provide smoke alarm on all levels and carbon monoxide detectors if rooms contain a solid fuel burning appliance. You should also ensure that there is easy access to escape routes within the property and check that any furniture and furnishings you provide as part of the tenancy comply with fire safety regulations.

Repairs

According to the Herts Advertiser, 43 per cent of landlords are unclear on what their current responsibilities are when it comes to repairing their property. It is your duty to perform repairs to ensure the property is structurally sound and free from disrepair. Among others, the following repair responsibilities are all yours:

The structure and exterior of the property including walls, windows and doors

Sinks, baths and sanitary fittings including pipes and drains

Heating and hot water

Gas appliances and ventilation

Electrical wiring

Any damage caused by attempting repairs

Faulty items or appliances such as a fridge or washing machine

Energy Performance Certificate

All tenants must have a copy of the property’s Energy Performance Certificate. The EPC lasts for ten years and is a rating for the energy performance of the property and recommendations for improving it.

Security

To enhance security of the property in order to reduce burglaries and potential damage, you should provide locks and keys in good working order. While it isn’t legally required, it is in your interest to fit burglar alarms and security lights to best protect your property and this will also help increase its value.

]]>Dealing with Damp When Renovating a Propertyhttp://doineedpermission.co.uk/dealing-with-damp-when-renovating-a-property/
Mon, 06 Jun 2016 10:43:29 +0000http://doineedpermission.co.uk/?p=12403If you have a house to renovate or own a portfolio of properties to improve, damp is likely to be an issue that rears its ugly head at some point. It can be a serious problem for homeowners and investors alike; untreated, it can lead to the deterioration of masonry, timber and plaster and even become a health hazard for occupants. However, it isn’t too difficult to sort out, as long as you know what you’re looking for…

First, you need to bear in mind that the treatment and prevention of damp changes depending on the age of a building. Old buildings were designed with solid walls without damp proof barriers with the expectation that water below and above ground would enter the building in the form of moisture. Essentially, no effort was made to keep moisture out of the house! However, this was completely intentional: old buildings were erected with an ability to breathe, featuring loose fitting doors and windows and fireplaces which drew in and circulated large quantities of air, meaning that moisture could pass from room to room and exit through the external walls.

On the other hand, modern buildings are designed to keep water out entirely using a system of barriers such as insulation and products designed to seal surfaces, such as damp-proof paints and plasters. So, start by evaluating the age of the property and act accordingly: sealing up an old property using damp proofing materials intended for use in modern buildings could spell disaster.

Next, identify the cause of damp. It might be something simple and easy to fix, such as a plumbing problem (like a relentless drip forming an intense damp patch on the ceiling), leaking gutters causing water to spill down external walls, holes in the roof, or even or blockages in downpipes.

Alternatively, it could be something trickier to fix… for example, the previous homeowner may have injected damp-proofing chemicals or seals into an already-damp wall, preventing water from escaping and worsening the damp problem. Another common mistake you might have to contend with is the addition of solid wood flooring that hasn’t been installed in a way that allows moisture from below to escape. In this instance, moisture will simply travel to the base of the adjoining walls and worsen the effects of damp. If any of these scenarios could be the cause of damp in your property, seek the advice of a professional!

Finally, be sure you know how to to identify damp and condensation. There are differences between the two, and as a result, you’ll need different solutions to deal with both. Condensation occurs when water vapour is produced in large quantities without anywhere to go, usually via activities such as showering, drying laundry inside or cooking.

In this case, renovators will need to properly ventilate the area and invest in paint products and other materials with anti-condensation properties. On the other hand, instances of damp will require treatment to solve the problem, followed by a material or product designed to prevent damp returning.

]]>How to keep your home safe from carbon monoxide poisoninghttp://doineedpermission.co.uk/how-to-keep-your-home-safe-from-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
http://doineedpermission.co.uk/how-to-keep-your-home-safe-from-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/#respondSun, 16 Nov 2014 21:06:32 +0000http://doineedpermission.co.uk/?p=11080Everyone wants to keep their home safe. We install burglar alarms to deter intruders and smoke alarms to alert us to fires; we fit child-proof locks on the windows and stairs, and we keep sandbags in storage in case of a flood. But a shocking majority of us are woefully under-prepared when it comes to protecting our homes against carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide poisoning kills dozens of people per year, while 4,000 people are admitted to A&E every year with carbon monoxide poisoning, and 200 of those are hospitalised with serious side effects.

Whether your home is powered by gas or heating oil, carbon monoxide poisoning is a very real risk, yet more than 62% of homes in the UK are not fitted with a carbon monoxide alarm, placing millions of people at risk.

Carbon monoxide an odourless, colourless and tasteless gas, so you may not realise that you are at risk from poisoning until it is too late. When it is breathed in, even in small quantities, it becomes absorbed into the blood stream, preventing red blood cells from carrying oxygen around your body. Prolonged and extreme exposure can result in death within a little as 20 minutes, while minimal exposure over the long term can cause brain damage and paralysis.

2. Know the symptoms

There are six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:

Headaches

Dizziness

Nausea or vomiting

Tiredness and confusion

Stomach pain

Shortness of breath.

If you start to experience one or more of these symptoms, open your windows immediately and breathe in some fresh air; turn off all your appliances; and see a doctor immediately.

3. Take care of your tank

Gas leaks are the most common cause of carbon monoxide poisoning in British homes, and the best way to avoid them is to take preventative measures.

Make sure your boiler is installed by an OFTEC registered engineer, and serviced at least once a year so you can catch any potential leaks early. If you have any concerns about your oil or gas supply in between annual appointments (for instance, if your tank has been vandalised or damaged in a storm), book another service to make sure everything is in order.

Carbon monoxide alarms are widely available and inexpensive. Make sure you install the alarm correctly, or get a registered engineer to do it for you. Test the alarm every couple of months to make sure it is still in good working order, and take regular readings so that you can familiarise yourself with the warning signs if there is evidence of a minor leak.

If you are a tenant, ask your landlord to supply one for you, and if you live in a large property, consider installing more than one alarm.

5. Fix faulty appliances immediately

There are a few tell-tale signs of a gas leak – keep a close eye on your appliances for any of the following changes:

Your pilot light goes out more frequently than usual

Dark brown or yellow stains appear around your boiler or other appliances

The gas flame on your cooker is low and orange (rather than high and blue)

Dark smoke is coming out of your boiler

If any of these issues arise in your home, get your appliances fixed immediately. While you are waiting for the engineer to arrive, keep plenty of windows open and turn off your gas and oil supply at the mains.

]]>http://doineedpermission.co.uk/how-to-keep-your-home-safe-from-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/feed/02014 Planning Fee Increase (Scotland)http://doineedpermission.co.uk/2014-planning-fee-increase/
http://doineedpermission.co.uk/2014-planning-fee-increase/#respondThu, 21 Aug 2014 11:06:25 +0000http://doineedpermission.co.uk/?p=10960An amendment to “The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Application (Scotland))” was laid before parliament on the 1st August 2014. From the 1st of November 2014 new fees for planning applications come into effect across Scotland. The effect of the amendment will be a fee increase of approximately 5% and can be summarised as below.

Application currently costing £192 increase to £202. An increase of £10 and covers applications like home extensions, alterations etc…

Application currently costing £382 increase to £401. An increase of £19 and covers applications like new dwellings, developments etc…

The Scottish Government note,

“The proposed 5% increase will strengthen resources and the capability of the planning authorities to deliver a high performing planning service whilst maintaining a supportive business environment that promotes sustainable economic growth”

All application made on or after this date will be subject to the new fees.